3 minute read

Outsider Emerald Kingdom has downed a strong field to win the BRC Sprint at Doomben.

Under-rated gelding Emerald Kingdom has given the locals at trainer Robert Heathcote's golf club something to cheer with a blistering victory in the BRC Sprint at Doomben. 

The horse snuck under the guard of most punters, who sent him out a $31 chance, but Heathcote declared the performance was no surprise to the stable. 

He said the gelding worked too hard from a wide draw when tiring to finish down the track behind Niccanova first-up at Eagle Farm last month and he had been spruiking him to his golfing mates since bookmakers opened BRC Sprint markets earlier in the week. 

"I said, 'guys, he's an 8-1 chance'. I said, 'start backing him'," Heathcote said. 

"I wasn't too disappointed with his first up run because he had to do it hard. 

"He's not an easy horse …. he's a challenge but he got the job done." 

Emerald Kingdom's victory in Saturday's 1350m sprint was his eleventh win and Heathcote said jockey Robbie Fradd deserved much of the praise. 

"He said, 'leave it up to me, I know this horse,' so Robbie's the best," Heathcote said. 

Fradd was confident Emerald Kingdom could win the race with the right ride and was focused on letting the horse get into his rhythm, knowing he would give a kick. 

He did just that to beat Tofane ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths with Axe ($13) a close up third. 

"I know when he is in the right frame of mind on the day, he is tough as nails this horse," Fradd said. 

"I said to Rob, 'he's a rhythm horse. Don't break him, don't try to go back'. 

"He's just got that rhythm and he's tough. When he got to the front like that pretty easy, I just brought him back and gave him that breather between the 700 and 500 and I think that was enough."